Davao City continues to enjoy low COVID-19 active cases under the extended alert level 1 status, according to the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said: “Our COVID-19 cases would remain to be lower than five percent na atoang acceptable positivity rate. We continue to have controlled ang atoang cases. However, even if we have low cases, naa gihapon ang PDITR plus nga strategy (we continue implementing our PDITR plus strategy).”
The Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) plus vaccination, according to her, has never stopped despite the full capacity and fully operational status of all offices and establishments under the city’s alert level 1 category.
She said quarantining and isolation of those infected with the coronavirus and the traditional contact tracing of the close contacts are also ongoing along with the treatment of COVID-19 patients and vaccination.
Dr. Schlosser also said the city continues to give free swab tests to those with influenza-like illnesses and close contact with COVID-19 positive patients. Free isolation services are also available for infected individuals who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
Home isolation has also been allowed for asymptomatics.
While most school-based TTMFs have been returned to the Department of Education (Deped), the city’s COVID-19 cluster clinics also have isolation beds.
The city health official said Davao City has a total of 57 active COVID-19 cases as of April 17, 2022. Of this number, 27 are currently at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), nine are in private hospitals, five are in Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMFs), five are endorsed to other facilities, and three in-home isolation, and all the rest are for triaging.
“Hopefully, mu-continue ni sya og baba and hopefully, dili na madungagan but then again as of today na gihapon ta’y cases so that means naa gihapon ta’y kalaban so magpabilin gihapon ta maging vigilant (Hopefully, our active cases continue to stay low and hopefully it won’t increase but then again as of today, we still have cases so that means the virus is still around so we must remain vigilant),” she added.
Dr. Schlosser reminded Dabawenyos to keep wearing face masks at all times, especially in crowded or public places where the risk of transmission is high. She said there are two ways that Dabawenyos can protect themselves, one is from COVID-19 transmission through the wearing of face masks and the second is from the severity of the disease through vaccination and booster shots.
She also said that it’s inevitable for anyone to get infected but being fully vaccinated and boostered reduces the risk of suffering from severe to critical symptoms of COVID-19.
The vaccination rollout has been extended until Saturdays to provide more opportunities for working individuals and students to avail of themselves.
Five to 11 years old vaccination starts at 10 a.m. on Mondays to Saturdays at SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premier, Gaisano Mall Bajada, Gaisano Grand City Gate in Buhangin, Gaisano Mall Toril, Gaisano Mall Calinan, and Gaisano Tibungco while vaccination for 12 years old and above population age groups are also scheduled beginning at 10 a.m. from Mondays to Saturdays at Gaisano Grand Mall Toril, and NCCC Mall Buhangin.
The Crocodile Park and People’s Park vaccination hubs continue to operate from Mondays to Saturdays.
Only the vaccination site at the Abreeza Ayala Malls is open from Monday until Sunday. CIO